The Ogun Government has dismissed allegations that it refused to disburse the N1 billion agriculture loan it had accessed from the Federal Government on behalf of the farmers in the State.
The state chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) on Tuesday alleged that the state government had been sitting on the fund and urged it to commence its disbursement or risk forceful closure of all markets in the state.
But reacting to the allegation at a news conference in Abeokuta on Thursday, Mr Ayo Olubori,?? the state Commissioner for Agriculture, described the allegation as “total falsehood” and an attempt to discredit the government.
Olubori said that the fund had been released to the United Bank for Africa (UBA) since November 2011.
The commissioner said that every individual farmer or group could access the fund after meeting the necessary requirements.
Olubori said that the government had the responsibility of ensuring that the genuine farmers benefitted from the fund.
The state government’s position was corroborated by the Agbekoya Farmers Association.
Speaking through their state Coordinator, Chief Wole Sanyaolu, at a news conference in Abeokuta, urged AFAN members to should shun violence and ensure that they met the laid down rules for accessing the loan.
The Agbekoya Farmers Association, established in 1938, is the foremost farmers group in the South-West.
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